Randall Terry, some sick freak in Missouri who is apparently running for President as an anti-Obama, anti-abortion conservative Democrat, has amassed enough money, thanks to his morbid following, to run a very graphic, very disturbing, and very upsetting political ad in 13 markets before and during the Super Bowl this Sunday. I would sooner watch Serbian Film than watch the ad again, and I'm sickened by the fact that this guy managed to get them on air by exploiting a censorship loophole for political commercials. Right now, there's a small legal squabble brewing between one Chicago station and Richardson's campaign about whether or not he actually qualifies as a presidential candidate and therefore whether stations are required to run the ad.

Either way, it's sick stuff. I understand and appreciate both sides of the abortion debate, and I also understand and appreciate freedom of speech. I don't think that the FCC should be charged with regulating content on network television, but I do think that the networks -- as private entities -- should have that ability to turn down spots they feel would upset their audience. Most people don't understand the intricacies, and the stations compelled to run the ads are going to get a sh*tload of complaints that they can't do anything about.

I don't think anti-abortion activists should be able to run spots like these any more than I think those who advocate for firearms regulations should be able to use graphic imagery of real people being shot to illustrate their point about the dangers of guns.

Here's the ad. I wouldn't recommend watching it but if you live in one of those 13 markets, you may not have a choice.